The News Not Noise Letter: News That Doesn’t Suck
How to beat the record-breaking heat. Plus: can nighttime cereal make you sleep? And a prehistoric priestess could change how we view ancient gender roles.
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This week has seen record-breaking heat.
Before we get to the news that doesn’t suck, we want to acknowledge that for the past few days air temperatures have been dangerously high worldwide. Monday was the hottest day on record — until that record was broken the next day, and so on. The Antarctic is 8.1 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than normal, and Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and other states have hit the “danger” zone of 103-125 degrees. The climate is changing and human activity is clearly having an impact on our planet. This is one reason we devote so much space in the newsletter to climate science breakthroughs and our collective responsibility.
Today we’re reminding you of some basic tips to stay safe in the swelter. Here’s what you can do to beat the heat:
Hydration: To regulate your body temperature, drink lots of fluids, even if you’re not thirsty. The CDC advises avoiding dehydrating beverages including anything with caffeine or alcohol. Water is a good choice; just remember to also replenish your electrolytes through food and/or electrolyte beverages which restore the critical salts you lose by sweating. Here’s a guide to when to choose electrolyte drinks over water from Scripps Health.
Vulnerable Groups: Children and adults over 65 are more vulnerable to extreme heat. Pay extra attention to kids and older adults, and encourage hydration. This seems obvious but if you’re in a place experiencing extended extreme heat, stay indoors, especially if you have air conditioning, and if you don’t, many cities and states have online lists of cooling locations where you can take refuge in the A/C. Here are links to find cooling centers in New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Dallas, just to name a few.
Pets are also vulnerable to extreme heat. Here are some guidelines from the Humane Society to help care for your furry friends during heat waves.
Know the Signs: Be on the lookout for signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. This infographic from the CDC can help you identify the signs of heat-related illnesses and what steps you should take to address them.
Here’s some news that doesn’t suck:
The Future of Food is… Sleepy? Last week, the Specialty Food Association hosted its annual Summer Fancy Food Show (love the name). It’s a chance for innovators in the culinary world to showcase the next big food fads. Some of the trendy foods on display included potato chips with floral flavors, a range of sleep-inducing snacks, and “upcycled” foods that reuse food products that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. We were particularly surprised by the sleep snacks. It seems food scientists are capitalizing on our increasing insomnia. Vast percentages of the US population experience symptoms of insomnia at some point during the year. Food companies are incorporating natural compounds linked to improved sleep like tryptophan, valerian root, chamomile, and more as a way to replace your nightly melatonin supplements. What do these sleepy foods look like? Post’s Sweet Dreams nighttime cereal (also available in Blueberry Midnight and Honey Moonglow flavors), Nightfood’s Sleep Friendly Cookies (made with “protein and prebiotic fiber” for your night-snacking pleasure), and The Functional Chocolate Company’s Sleepy Chocolate (made with “a thoughtful blend of powerful botanicals”) are just a few examples. Do you want lavender botanicals in your midnight cereal?
Fourth of July Facts: Because it was just the 4th of July, we thought we’d share some facts about our population, courtesy of our friends at USAFacts. The population of the US is 331,893,745, which is up 7% in the last decade. The US population is 13.6% foreign-born. Want to find out if the US fertility rate is rising or falling, or which states are growing the fastest? Check out their population breakdown here. USAFacts is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to making government data accessible. They are a News Not Noise content partner.
Jobs Up, Unemployment Down: The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ June jobs report showed unemployment slowed to 3.6%, and the US added 209,000 jobs in June. This is a slower jobs increase than in May, but still positive — it means the US economy is cooling somewhat while remaining strong. More good news: hourly wages are up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis, and a recent poll by Morning Consult found 24% of Americans say they’d get a raise if they asked for one — a significant increase from recent months.
Blue Skies for Vanilla: Vanilla the Chimp was born in a medical research lab in 1994, and until this year, the 28-year-old chimp had never seen the open sky. Recently, she moved to a new home at Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida and saw the sky for the first time. The video is amazing and, no surprise, has gone viral. Vanilla seems awestruck as she looks up at the sky, her jaw dropping. You can watch her socialize with her new friends and wander around the sanctuary’s wide fields, the whole time constantly looking up at the blue sky above. It’s worth the watch!
Paying subscribers get an additional item – today it’s about a powerful prehistoric priestess who is changing how we think about ancient gender roles – and a few fun social posts. To those who signed up, thank you for your support! It truly makes all the difference in the world.
